Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is spread when a person comes in contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person. The virus can enter the body through cuts or bites on the skin or through unprotected sex with an infected person.

Newborns can get hepatitis B during birth if the mother is infected. However, many people who get the virus don’t know the source of infection. If left untreated, chronic infection can cause serious long-term consequences, including permanent liver damage (cirrhosis) and liver cancer. Infants and children are much more likely to develop these serious complications than adults.

Why get vaccinated?

The hepatitis B vaccine series consists of three doses that provide long-term protection from hepatitis B infection and its consequences. The vaccine is very effective and has drastically reduced the number of hepatitis B infections since it was first recommended for all children in 1991. Since then, new hepatitis B infections have dropped by more than 95 percent. Plus, this is one of just two vaccines that have proved effective in preventing cancer!

When should my newborn get vaccinated?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth. It is the only vaccine routinely recommended at birth because:

— Mothers with hepatitis B are less likely to transmit the virus to their newborn if the vaccine is given soon after birth.While a hepatitis B screen during pregnancy may have come back negative, the tests are not perfect and lab errors as well as documentation errors do occur. Mothers may also be infected after the screening test. A birth dose of the vaccine acts as a safety net to reduce your newborn’s chances of being infected.

— 2 in 3 children with hepatitis B are born to mothers who are not infected.These children are infected by family members or close contacts with hepatitis B, some of whom don’t even know they are infected. These children could be protected by vaccination at birth.

— Infants who get a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine are more likely to complete the vaccine series.

What are the risks of the hepatitis B vaccine?

The vaccine is very safe and well tolerated. It is important to note that the vaccine cannot cause hepatitis B. Some side effects of the vaccination include soreness in the area where the shot was given, fever and, very rarely (1 of 600,000 doses), an allergic reaction. If you develop signs of an allergic response, including difficulty breathing, wheezing, hives or paleness after any vaccination, seek medical attention immediately.

]]>2714OHSU Doernbecher takes another ‘HealthyStep’ by rewarding breastfeeding employeeshttps://blogs.ohsu.edu/doernbecher/2013/02/05/ohsu-doernbecher-takes-another-healthystep-by-rewarding-breastfeeding-employees/
https://blogs.ohsu.edu/doernbecher/2013/02/05/ohsu-doernbecher-takes-another-healthystep-by-rewarding-breastfeeding-employees/#commentsTue, 05 Feb 2013 23:29:34 +0000http://www.ohsu.edu/blogs/doernbecher/?p=1792Continued]]>Any working mom can tell you, breastfeeding and expressing breast milk for a baby at work can be a tough job, and Oregon’s long-term breastfeeding rates highlight this difficulty.

While our state boasts one of the highest breastfeeding initiation rates in the nation — about 90 percent — its exclusive breastfeeding rates at three and six months after birth are nothing to brag about. Oregon’s exclusive breastfeeding rates fall to around 50 percent and 25 percent at three and six months, respectively.

While Oregon is a model for much of the nation for our initial breastfeeding rates, we stumble when trying to meet the above recommendations and Healthy People 2020 goals for extended breastfeeding.

Unpaid maternity leave, increased numbers of women in the workforce (with increased financial pressure for them to return to work sooner), and the challenges breastfeeding women face when returning to work contribute to the difficulty in maintaining breastfeeding rates started at birth.

Fortunately, Oregon law supports women who intend to breastfeed their children when returning to work. Employers with 25 or more employees must make reasonable efforts to provide private space and time for nursing mothers who request a place to feed or express milk for their infants.

But, as working women know, it’s not just about the space, it’s about establishing a culture of breastfeeding support in the workplace.

The health benefits of breastfeeding are well established for both mother and infant, but supporting breastfeeding also makes good business sense. The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health promotes “The Business Case for Breastfeeding,” citing studies which report lower insurance costs, fewer sick days, reduced employee turnover and even higher productivity and loyalty when breastfeeding mothers are supported in the workplace.

Healthier and happier employees are good for any organization, and Oregon Health & Science University leadership understands this.

HealthySteps, established in 2010, is an individual-initiated employee wellness program offered by the OHSU Benefits Department and managed by the university’s Division of Health Promotion and Sports Medicine. It encourages healthful behaviors in OHSU employees by providing financial incentives. Reduced health insurance premiums and annual cash bonuses are available for those who choose to participate.

Employees can earn points toward incentives by choosing from a menu of healthful behaviors, including exercise, community service, and team participation to achieve wellness and logging these activities. Now, breastfeeding and expressing breast milk are options for gaining points, as well.

In addition, similar to blood donation, points may be logged for making breast milk donations to the Northwest Mothers Milk Bank or any Human Milk Banking Association of North America milk bank (the Northwest Mothers Milk Bank plans to provide a local source for pasteurized breast milk, a life-saving medicine for Oregon’s premature infants, in 2013).

]]>https://blogs.ohsu.edu/doernbecher/2013/02/05/ohsu-doernbecher-takes-another-healthystep-by-rewarding-breastfeeding-employees/feed/51792Surviving when the crying won’t stop!https://blogs.ohsu.edu/doernbecher/2012/12/26/surviving-when-the-crying-wont-stop/
https://blogs.ohsu.edu/doernbecher/2012/12/26/surviving-when-the-crying-wont-stop/#commentsWed, 26 Dec 2012 15:00:21 +0000http://www.ohsu.edu/blogs/doernbecher/?p=1628Continued]]>It’s the end of the day and you’re looking forward to sitting down and relaxing, if only for just a minute, when it begins … the crying.

She doesn’t want to feed. She doesn’t need to be changed, and none of your regular tricks for soothing her are working. She just keeps crying. You are at your wits’ end, but the screaming continues.

Infant crying typically starts to increase when your baby is 2 weeks old and usually ends by 5 months of age. All babies go through this period of crying as part of normal infant development, but some babies cry more than others.

Infant crying can be very stressful for parents and other caregivers, and it’s one of the most common aggravating factors leading to shaken baby syndrome. Young infants are particularly susceptible to brain injury after shaking, which often results in brain swelling and bleeding. This can result in blindness, learning difficulties and in the worse case, death. These injuries can be prevented by learning coping strategies to deal with infant crying.

The Period of PURPLE Crying is a program developed by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. Each of the letters in the word PURPLE stands for a characteristic of normal infant crying:

P stands for “Peak.” This is the peak of the crying pattern that increases gradually from birth, peaking in the second month of life then improving thereafter.

U stands for “Unexpected.” The crying occurs unexpectedly with out any clear precipitating event.

R stands for “Resists soothing”. The crying may not stop no matter what you do to calm the baby.

P stands for “Pain”. The infant looks like she is in pain even though she is not.

L stands for “Long.” These episodes can last for hours.

E stands for “Evening”. Most commonly the crying episodes occur in the late afternoon or evening when the caregiver is most exhausted.

Inconsolable crying can be extremely frustrating for caregivers. The period of PURPLE Crying program provides three “action steps” that can help reduce some of the stress of dealing with these episodes.

Keep walking, talking and comforting your baby, even if she does not seem soothed by this.

If it is safe to do so, put the baby down in a safe place, such as their bassinet, and walk away for a few minutes to collect yourself. Breathe! Then return to your baby to check on them.

Most importantly, never shake or hurt your baby.

These steps may not calm your baby every time (remember, the crying is resistant), but they may help reduce your baby’s crying as well as help you stay calm so you and your baby can safely make it through this challenging period.

Your OHSU and Doernbecher physicians and nurses are here to help. Please call if you are feeling frustrated with infant crying.

This infection, which is caused by the bacteria Bordatella pertussis, has been on the rise since the 1980s. Washington State currently is experiencing an outbreak of whooping cough and the number of cases in Oregon is much higher than the national average.

People of all ages can contract this highly contagious illness, but it can be especially dangerous for infants. Most babies who get pertussis are infected by those who love them the most. That’s why it is so important for everyone involved in your new baby’s care to be vaccinated against pertussis.

Symptoms and complications of pertussisThe symptoms of pertussis can be highly variable. Some adults may have only a runny nose and cough. Others may have violent coughing fits, sometimes followed by a “whoop” sound. Children may appear exhausted or even vomit after a coughing fit. Infants with pertussis may experience apnea (a pause in breathing) or develop serious complications involving the lungs or brain.

More than half of infected infants must be hospitalized. Of these, approximately 1 in 4 infants with pertussis will develop pneumonia. Tragically, 1 to 2 in 100 infants hospitalized for the infection will die.

Who should be vaccinated against pertussis?Thankfully, there is a vaccine that protects against B. pertussis. The childhood vaccine to prevent pertussis is started at 2 months of age, but infants are often not protected until they have received multiple vaccinations in this series.

Older children, teens and adults are eligible for a vaccine booster called Tdap. It is important that those who care for young children keep them safe from this illness by staying up to date on their pertussis vaccine. We call this protection process of surrounding vulnerable infants with vaccinated caregivers “cocooning.” This includes new moms, dads, and siblings, as well as grandparents, nannies and any others coming into regular contact with your newborn. Pregnant moms can safely receive the vaccine after 20 weeks of gestation.

It is important to remember that pertussis symptoms range from minimal to severe, and even those with a mild illness may transmit the bacteria through coughing or blowing their nose. Some people with pertussis have a fever, but most do not.

The best way to prevent the spread of infection is by vaccination. Parents of newborns, it’s OK to ask your friends and family, “Have you had your whooping cough shot?”

Get ready for your new baby now and protect yourself and your family from pertussis! Make an appointment today to receive your Tdap vaccine from your OHSU Healthcare provider.